Just in time for another fun-filled summer weekend – this weblink to the Natural Resources Defense Council website provides a detailed and comprehensive report on the 200 cleanest (yay!) and dirtiest (boo!) beaches in the United States. Nothing like a little grossing out to keep one home (or your shoes on). Congratulations to those beaches/communities in Alabama, California, Delaware, Maryland, Minnesota, and Texas that received five star ratings for cleanliness. Here they are the cleanest beaches:

Gulf Shores Public Beach, Alabama and

Gulf State Park Pavilion, Alabama

Newport Beach, California

Bolsa Chica Beach, California

Huntington State Beach, California

Dewey Beach, Delaware

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Ocean City, Maryland

Park Point Franklin Park, Minnesota

13th Street South Beach Park Point, Minnesota

Lafayette Community Club Beach, Minnesota

Hampton Beach State Park, New Hampshire

Wallis Beach, New Hampshire

South Padre Island, Texas

One would think that local and state tourism and health departments would be making sure area beaches are kept clean, pristine, and safe. No one wants to play beach tippy-toe or harpoon dodge-m. Here is the list of the worst beaches:

Source: treehugger.com

Avalon Beach, California

Doheny State Beach, California

Winnetka Elder Park Beach, Illinois

North Point Marina North Beach, Illinois

Constance Beach, Louisiana

Gulf Breeze, Louisiana

Little Florida, Louisiana

Long Beach, Louisiana

Rutherford Beach, Louisiana

Beachwood Beach West, New Jersey

Woodlawn Beach, New York

Ontario Beach, New York

The last thing any place whose economy is partially or fully dependent on tourism wants to do is gross out the vacationers. Bad word-of-mouth is very difficult to overcome, no matter how much money is sunk into advertising and marketing campaigns.